Anabasis eBook

[1] Lit. “had they wound off thread by thread”;
the metaphor is from
unwinding a ball of wool.

These words were spoken as he rode past, and simultaneously
he began leading on the troops in battle line; and,
placing the peltasts on either flank of the main body,
they moved against the enemy. Along the line
the order had sped “to keep their spears at rest
on the right shoulder until the bugle signal; then
lower them for the charge, slow march, and even pace,
no one to quicken into a run.” Lastly, the
watchword was passed, “Zeus the Saviour, Heracles
our Guide.” The enemy waited their approach,
confident in the excellence of his position; but as
they drew closer the Hellene light troops, with a
loud alala! without waiting for the order, dashed against
the foe. The latter, on their side, came forward
eagerly to meet the charge, both the cavalry and the
mass of the Bithynians; and these turned the peltasts.
But when with counter-wave the phalanx of the heavy
infantry rapidly advancing, faced them, and at the
same time the bugle sounded, and the battle hymn rose
from all lips, and after this a loud cheer rose, and
at the same instant they couched their spears;—­at
this conjuncture the enemy no longer welcomed them,
but fled. Timasion with his cavalry followed
close, and, considering their scant numbers, they
did great execution. It was the left wing of the
enemy, in a line with which the Hellene cavalry were
posted, that was so speedily scattered. But the
right, which was not so hotly pursued, collected upon
a knoll; 28 and when the Hellenes saw them standing
firm, it seemed the easiest and least dangerous course
to go against them at once. Raising the battle
hymn, they straightway fell upon them, but the others
did not await their coming. Thereupon the peltasts
gave chase until the right of the enemy was in its
turn scattered, though with slight loss in killed;
for the enemy’s cavalry was numerous and threatening.

But when the Hellenes saw the cavalry of Pharnabazus
still standing in compact order, and the Bithynian
horsemen massing together as if to join it, and like
spectators gazing down from a knoll at the occurrences
below; though weary, they determined to attack the
enemy as best they could, and not suffer him to recover
breath with reviving courage. So they formed
in compact line and advanced. Thereupon the hostile
cavalry turned and fled down the steep as swiftly as
if they had been pursued by cavalry. In fact
they sought the shelter of a gully, the existence
of which was unknown to the Hellenes. The latter
accordingly turned aside too soon and gave up the chase,
for it was too late. Returning to the point where
the first encounter took place they erected a trophy,
and went back to the sea about sunset. It was
something like seven miles to camp.